Ray Stevens came to Wild Blue from a TNR project in Elizabeth Colorado in late November with a brother and sister. He and the brother had significant hair loss and lesions on their faces and paws due to a bad ringworm infection.  Some cases of ringworm can be cleared with topical ointments and baths but both Ray and his brother Ritchie Valens were so severe it was decided to give them an oral antifungal liquid called Itrafungol.  Ray soon developed bad diarrhea, which is a common side effect of itrafungol.  One week later Ray’s foster family noticed something was protruding from Ray’s hind end and it turned out he had a prolapsed rectum.  His foster took him to the ER where they placed a “purse string” (a suture in a circle around the anus to keep the rectum coming back out. Typically, a purse string is all that is needed for this issue.  One week went by, the suture was removed and Ray was back to normal! He was neutered, vaccinated and on the way to being available for adoption after the ringworm was cleared up.
Then it happened again. Another ER visit and another purse string was inserted.  10 days later it happened again. Another purse string suture, more antiparasitics. This time we left the suture in twice as long, but 3 days later it happened again and Ray was on his way to the CSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Ft Collins to get special help.
The veterinarians there were concerned that while the surgery may help now, it might not be as effective on a kitten as a grown cat.  Purse string #5 was placed and he was put on a strict diet, a couple more meds.  4 days later he prolapsed again with the suture still in. Back up to CSU.  This time there was no choice but to try the surgery to tack his colon to his inside body wall.  Surgery went great, and he is now in recovery with his foster and we are hoping he can move forward as a happy kitten. Ray’s Vet bills total over $5000…can you help us raise half of that to help him and others get the care they need?

Ray is a super sweet kitten who deserved much better than he has already endured. He deserves an end to this nightmare.  We hope the end is near!  He’s come so far, but still needs so much. Can you help?  Donate here  on our Facebook page to help Ray Stevens.  Our goal is $2,500